Enthusiasts want one year to restore historic cinema
James Crompton is campaigning to reopen the former cinema on Church Street
Campaigners battling to save and restore Preston’s last traditional cinema claim they will succeed if they are given a year’s grace.
A campaign will try to restore the former Odeon cinema, in Church Street, Preston, after it was put on the market.
The two-screen complex, which dates back to 1928, was recently listed as for sale or to let amid fears the last of the city centre’s traditional cinemas could be lost.
Cinema enthusiast James Crompton, 25, from Leyland, began a campaign on Facebook which quickly attracted 555 members and a public meeting was held to take their plans forward.
Now he is finalising plans to form a ‘Friends’ group which he believes will enable him to bring the derelict cinema back to life.
He said: “We have got 20 people who want to build a Friends group. We had about 40 people attending the previous meeting and just about half stayed behind to have a quick chat about what to do next. Most of the people visited the building at one time or other, so they know what they are talking about.”
James, who has been involved in similar projects across the North West, said he had been overwhelmed by the level of support for the plan.
He said: “If they would allow us 12 months with access to the building which would allow us to build up a viable business plan and raise the funds.
“It has been empty for 16 years, so what’s a further 12 months?
“We would make the building safe.”
A spokesman for Luminar Group Holdings Plc confirmed it owned the freehold and was now seeking offers from prospective purchasers.
A meeting to establish the Friends group will take place on Thursday May 13, at the Mitchell and Kenyon Cinema, in the Foster Building, off Corporation Street, from 7pm.
* To attend the meeting email newviccinema@yahoo.co.uk.
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Comments
There are 7 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
River
Monday, May 17, 2010 at 02:45 PMThis is exactly the kind of energetic local campaign we need to breathe life back into our sorely neglected city centre, and to save one of Preston's jewels. Good luck to all involved - and Frenchwoody is right, if the politicians and bigwigs give 1% of the backing to this that they are giving to Tithebarn, it will be guaranteed to be a spectacular success. (Unlike Tithebarn).
Frenchwoody
Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at 06:39 PMThe sad thing is that Preston Council, Preston Vision and Downtown Preston will probably do nothing to promote this excellent campaign because it's coming from Prestonians and not developers.
pnestar
Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at 01:41 PMGet in touch with Phoenix Cinema in 'That London'. They have restored a cinema to its (original?) art deco origins. Try and do that with the Odeon. Good luck in your endeavours. http:www.phoenixcinema.co.uk
Fishwick
Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 06:21 AMGood luck with the effort to refurbish the old New Vic. In its hey day it was one of the best cinema's in the country and its foyer was a real meeting place..."See you outside of the New Vic" It was comparable to meeting you at the kiosk in the Arcade...fond memories. I wish you luck...
livewithunicorns
Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 03:06 AMthis is great news, this really is a worthy cause, all help is welcome, please visit the facebook group THE FORMER ODEON (NEW VIC) ACTION GROUP PRESTON. and please do spare a little time to watch our youtube video http:www.youtube.comwatch?v=3bdRBXcK5kY. i'm sure it'll bring a tear to your eye and stir you into action......:)
Belisama
Monday, May 3, 2010 at 07:43 PMNot going to be a make - over laffalot,it got that in the early 60s,it is going to be restored,given the chance, to as much as possible to the 1920s Art Deco look, domes and all, yes it has two domes hidden under the false ceilings, So don't fear the cladding. it will be coming off, not going on.
laffalot
Monday, May 3, 2010 at 04:03 PMAbout time!!! I have many happy memories of the Odeon, children's mornings watchin' The Lone Ranger, Flash Gordon atc. I didn't realize it dated back to the 20's but please, if you're gonna give it a make-over stick to the original looks it had, don't make it look like a chrome & cladding front... too many places are made to look like that these days!!! It will definitely attract more people to the city centre but it won't be a total answer to attracting loads more people, other buildings should be sensitively tidied up rather than altering the character totally ie Flag Market, Winkley Square. A bit of lateral thinking please!!
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